Question for Zack

Date: Apr 18, 2006

Question for Zack

Date: Apr 24, 2006

Dripping Springs. Its a 4A school located a few miles southwest of austin. Sorry about how long it took me to answer this. I havent been on this forum in a loooooooong time.

Anyway... I decided that this summer is going to be the summer in which I get extremely good at all 5 math/science events. If anyone else would like to follow this example (believe me it works), this is how I am going to advance through region in all 5 events:

Number Sense: Take a test at 8:00 AM every morning before summer school/soccer (and 10:00 AM on weekends). Use the next 20 minutes going over the problems that I either missed or was slowed down by, classify them according to problem type, and develop a database of types of problems to recognize and solve.

Calculator: Go to lunch with friend off of school calculator team right after school, and take and grade a test with him. Like NS, classify and quarentine based on type, and then discuss strategies for attacking different kinds of problems.

Mathematics: I'm going to get 2 books: 1. The Art and Craft of Problem Solving, and 2. A random precal book. Everyday before sleep, I'll work a chapter out of each and then look at problems from previous UIL Math tests. Apparently, the problems from UIL are redundant.

Science: I already have a pretty good system worked out here. I have about 10 lamented papers that I take in the shower with me that contain very detailed notes on pretty much everything I learned in AP Chem and AP physics. They got me scores around 200 with a crappy bio score, so I suppose that next year I'll be awesome due to new notes from AP Physics II and AP Bio. At region, though, something strange happened to me... I took my test starting in the physics and Chem sections, so that I could use as much of the formulas I memorized as I could. I made one sweep through both sections, answering as much as I could, and then I made another sweep to check and answer questions that I skipped on the first sweep. I had just finished question 60 on the physics section when the proctor called time. I was like "OH SH**!!". I hadnt answered any of the bio questions!!! So I turned in my test, and meekly made my way to the CS test which was just about to start... I found out later that I scored a 130 without the bio. I took the bio section at home and scored a 58. I would've gotten 2nd place. I'm still kicking myself for that. >.<

Comp Sci: I learned alot this year from CS, and I have 3 years of CIS Tests and UIL Tests to get me through this upcoming summer, as well as programming contests like USACO and TopCoder. I got 4th in regionals in CS this year because I went 13.5 hrs without eating, and I nearly passed out during the contest, but hey, I guess thats how it goes...

Anyway, thats my summer (with soccer tourneys and college visits sprinkled in there). I hope that I can get a few people from around my area to join in the UIL fun. I kinda wish that schools would hold summer UIL meets. I know that sounds nerdy, but I really wish they did. It would make my life alot easier, and it would give me even more incentive to try harder.

Even so, I think my goals for next year arent too farfetched:

NS: 1st in district, 3rd or better in region, 10th or better at state

Calculator: 1st in district, 4th or better in region, or just to qualify for state with the team

Math: 1st in district, and to place at region (Its my worst event)

Science: 1st in district, 1st in region, top 6 in state.

CS: 1st in district, 1st in region, and top 3 in state.

Projected scores to attain these goals:

NS: 200+, Calculator: 210+, Math: 170+, Science 190+, CS, 208+;

THOSE ARE MY GOALS! WHAT ARE YOURS?

- Zack -

useless · Long-term Member

By the way, useless (THATS ME, ZACK!) is back!!

Date: Apr 25, 2006

Gaw......... Good luck with that!

I'm trying to get over 200 in NS. That's the only event i do. Can u kinda give me some tips how to get better please?

bradp · Senior Member

I like that kind of planning. I would like to improve all my events over the summer, but mainly NS.

fht · Long-term Member

Oh my, you're really going to work yourself up this summer, aren't you!

The schedule looks excellent, and the result I am sure would be just as sweet. What grade are you, Zack? Are you going to be a senior or junior?

I admire you devotion and determination very much because usually after State meet, I take a 5-month break until the superconference, and regular practice won't start until after the new year when we go to practice meet for the Invitational. Since I got all the Junior craziness this year, I didn't start regular practice until I saw how behind I was in district.

I don't think I'm going to expand much, I hardly ever practiced SC and CA, and I'm not that interested in CS, either. CA now looks fascinating, though. I want to start doing CA a little bit, but for SC and CS, I'd be satisfied with district golds.

Are you going to state this year? If so, in what, and how many events? I look forward to meeting you in NS and MA. I wonder why MA is your worst because you do have the brain and the knowledge. I also wonder why many people are good at some event but not the others even though all five events are so intricately connected.

useless · Long-term Member

I'll be a senior next year, and I really want to make my last year count. My first 2 years I spent doing Social Studies exclusively, while practicing NS and Computer Science on the side. I went to state both years but came away with no medals at state, although I did win region the second round through.

This year, my endeavors shifted as I decided that I didnt have time to be studying so much for history. Instead, I turned my attention to Comp Sci, and I quickly became good. I did fine at district and scored a 216 (Best in my region by 8)... But Region for me this year was hell. I had to go to the Future Problem Solving State Bowl from 8:30-10:00 in Austin, and litterally avg 85 mph on the way to the regional site in San Antonio in order to make the Science contest. I walked into the room right when they called my name. Talk about great timing! And things became even better when I found out that LBJ decided to stay home from regionals, because I knew that I had a shot at placing. So... As soon as I got my test, I flipped to the Chem and Physics sections and answered them sequentially, taking extra time to check my answers from every angle. As soon as I was satisfied with what I had written down for those two section, and in fact, right as I was turning to the bio section of my test booklet the proctor called time! I'm still kicking myself... I have no idea how I could space out that freaking much! sigh... I got 9th with a score of 130 without the bio section. Yesterday, I took the bio section just for grins, and I scored a 48. I would've placed 2nd and gone to region. >.< Anyway, as soon as Science was over, I had to literally run to the Comp Sci room. Pretty much as soon as I sat down, the test began. By this point of the day, I had gone without eating for 8hrs. I was so hungry that I was having trouble staying awake... Because of that, I made the worst score on any test that I had taken in 3 months - 162. I was able to salvage a 4th place on it, although I am pretty certain that one of the judges solutions to the answer key is incorrect (the big o of searching a binatry tree), so I should have a 170, but that doesnt matter, because I still wouldnt have advanced... Anyways, the next test was math. I still hadnt eaten by the time this one came around. I dont even really remember taking that test, but I do know that I didnt even break 100 on it. haha... Oh thats embarrassing. And finally, after that we got to do the 2hr hands on test for CS. The regional problems were really difficult. We were able to get 6 in correctly before the last 5 minutes. In the last 5, we were able to rapidly code this program that was supposed to sort words with the letters in each reversed, so I stupidly wrote my own sort algorithm to do it. Ours worked for all our cases, and all the judges but one: it didnt sort A and AA in the right order. Ours did this A AA, when it should've been the other way around. HOW THE HECK WERE WE SUPPOSED TO KNOW ABOUT THAT CASE?! That cost us 1st place and wild card, all in one horriblely ambuguous problem. ARGH!

So yeah... I'm spreading out my skills so that I have 5 valid chances to make it to state instead of one that could go horriblely wrong.

Anyway, to answer your questions... Math is my worst test because I have never, ever practiced it. Because of the lack of familiarity with the types of questions presented and the ideas tested, I am really slow. I do about 30 questions, and score typically in the 120 - 150 range on normal days where I eat and rest well. I like the math test, dont get me worng, I just need to practice so that I wont have to waste time developing methods for solving instead of just solving, which is the same thing with NS and Calc. The three to me, also, are alot the same, but people tend to pick just one of the contests to practice towards without realizing that the practice could permeate into other contests. The two science contests, though, I believe are a bit different from the math tests. The CS test to me is more of a trivia test, and the Science test I think tries to hard to be all-encompassing, even when the test directors know that they cant hit on every subject area...

I really hope that I can improve in the math events. I also hope I become a bit more confident in my test taking abilities in general, to do away with anxiety and stuff.

I hope that our paths cross somewhere in the UIL future. You should give me a heads up to what contests your school's going to when the time arises, so that I maybe can drive out with a few of my friends to compete as independants. Fear the Tyrannosuars!!!

haha. Anyway, I wish you the best of luck at state in your multiple pursuits. Hopefully you'll be able to produce multiple medals! Good Luck!

- Zack -

useless · Long-term Member

I did forget to mention one really good thing about that day at region. Our FPS team got 2nd at state, so we're going off to Boulder, Colorodo in June, surprisingly right when I'm scheduled to take the SAT. Luckily, on the day we're not doing FPS, the site that we're competing is also a SAT center. Yay. It all worked out!

Date: Apr 27, 2006

Lol, what a day for you at Regionals! I was pretty busy last year at our Regional since I was doing all 5 events (had I not finished SC early, I wouldn't even be able to eat lunch, which is a big deal because I am a determined regular mealer.) So this year even though I was grumpy that I got fourth in district in SC(4th in District just sounds horrible) and second team in CS, I was quite relieved that I finally got a break.

You're the same grade as I, but I don't think my time-management skill is as good as yours. I never was able to give all 5 events full throttle -- I never tried to and dared to. Plus we got a pretty tough USHistory teacher and I know nothing about the subject(I came here 3 years ago).

I always pay special respect to those who can handle the two extremes, like Orrin(he's state spelling champ), and Blain Baumgardt(he's in ready writing), and you.

Well, I'm bugging my coach on doing TMSCA state next year, and also I want to do AMC 10 too. And what are those problem solving bowls you speak of?

Oh, I forgot to sign in... I'm fht -- SamF

Best Wishes

useless · Long-term Member

Yeah, I've been trying to get my teacher to sign up for TMSCA as well. I think she'll actually go for it next year since our team should be relatively competitive by next year... I hope. I bet I can even convince her to order a few AMC tests. Its the least she could do, since she's the head of the UIL math teams...

As for Future Problem Solving, its this contest in which teams of four are given this Hypothetical future scene where some new program has been instituted in the world in order to solve the contests topic(can be anything from global warming to overpopulation to healthcare access, etc). You have 2 hrs to read through the future scene, analyze it, brainstorm 16 possible problems with it, pick one that your team is willing to solve (supposed to be the most important), come up with 16 solutions to it, develop criteria to determine which solution is the best, and explain why the best solution is best. Its really fun, and I bet Internationals will prove to be just the same.

Anyways, Congrats on qualifying for state again in multiple events! I hope that I'll be able to do that next year, especially since Medina Valley will be gone. YES!!!

- Zack -

fht · Long-term Member

Oh, so it has more to do with social studies than it does with math. I thought it was math related because I heard Aaron talking about something that sounds like it.

I was bugging my coach this year about going to TMSCA, but she said the date of State contest --- the weekend of Spring Break --- wouldn't work for her at all. Evidently math plays a bigger role in my life than in hers.

Yes I saw Medina Valley moving to 3A, and Klein Oak moving back to 5A. A lot of the top people are leaving too: Sam, Chris, Blain, Megan... I wonder whether 4A will be as competitive next year as it is this year because competition is where the fun is. This gives us another incentive to study hard because we gotta keep the "standard" they set for us, we can't let it fall because they left.

What region are you going to be in next year? We will be in Region 4 with Flour Bluff. Poor 3A people, they are going to be blown away next year.

Best Wishes

useless · Long-term Member

Cool! That means you'll be in our region! It looks like our region is going to be the one to beat next year... The Flour Bluff people, you, and my teams will all be clawing and scraping in order to get into state. I'll have to practice even harder than I thought if I want to stand a chance at accomplishing my goals.

I had no idea that Medina Valley was going 3A next year! I just thought that Tony Zerr and Chris Compean were graduating, which kind of kills their math team anyway. It just leaves them with Sarah Aelvolet, who is competitive in NS, but not so much in math, science or calc.

Flour Bluff is kind of scary the more I look at their scores. They're all sofies, and their scores are all decent, which means that by next year they should be pretty awesome by next year. JYARR.

Anyway, I was wondering what you did to get rapidly good at the mathematics contest. I was just going to work my way through a few books and look over a few UIL tests, but I was wondering if there was anything else I should be doing. If I want to stand a chance at placing at region with you AND flour bluff, I'll need to pull out all the stops. Any tips?

- Zack -

fht · Long-term Member

LOL! WOW, I'm definitely looking forward to next year's Regional now. It's going to be so fun and you know what? Flour Bluff's got enough gold in their hands already, it's time for us to get some.

We were with Flour Bluff at the practice meet in Tuloso-Midway every year (we do TMSCA), and so far individual-wise I have not seen any really serious threat for the last 2 years, except that their team beat us every year. True you've pointed out that their advantage is that their team score is even. However, I saw this freshman, Raphael something Lim, that scored as well as I did in my freshman year. I have no doubt that he'll emerge as the team leader. He and Acker will be the biggest problem. (Lim is 2nd after Chris in math in Regional, and 5 in NS just 40 points off from Acker.)

Tony Zerr is graduating? Thank goodness.

I'm sorry I have nothing exciting to tell about about my math practice. I JUST DO 'EM TESTS. Do'em Mr. Whites' '03, '04, and '05 tests. I start doing them after district. Oh, Dr. Numsen's tests works too. His are a bit harder but in a way it makes it a better source. And don't you think that I knew that 1st place regional was coming. I was so nervous that I wouldn't be able to go to state this year (look at how far was I behind in district scores), and that turned out to be a complete surprise, for my coach too. It seems like I always do better if I don't expect much. I considered it luck and I still do.

So just do'em tests. For me, Mr. Whites' old tests are recyclable because I only do them once a year, but it may be better for you study like every year's districtA and see the pattern, how he makes the questions, what's new every year, and how to do his problems. He reserves the right to have "inspirations," though, so in some way it's like a box of chocolate.

Best Wishes

useless · Long-term Member

haha, I like the way you put it: "Do'em tests!" If thats what I got to do, then thats what I got to do. I think that your advice serves to prove my point about the UIL math tests, though. They are, for the most part, practice tests. In the realm of competition its all about speed. Who can recognize and solve the most questions within the window of 40 minutes? The champion in UIL Math, thats who. But, as always, I think White throws in about 10 new questions a test, for the people that score over and around 300. He also adds nuances to the many of the other kinds of problems which are supposed to slow everyone down, and keep them from getting to those 10 questions anyway. Its almost like some sort of elaborate defense structre like in Indiana Jones to keep you from attaining the 360, or in his case some secret jewel.

As for Flour Bluff, they wont know what hit them next year... I hope. It would be cool to see you and I in places 1, 2 in math/NS, with flour bluff having trouble even qualifying for state. I should add that to my list of goals - BEAT FLOUR BLUFF. No prisoners! haha.

Anyways... I wish you the best of luck in beating Chris Compean and Medina Valley at State this year. You would be a hero to Number Sense people everywhere if you could take down that beast, or Sam S, for that matter. A 400!?!? That's just scary. Someone must've been practicing.

fht · Long-term Member

Yeah, it's time to let Flour Bluff learn something. We will show them who's the boss next year. Man, I can't wait.

Well, thank you very much for your well-wishing. However, I don't think I have a chance to beat SamS and Chris in NS, they are OUT WAAAAY OVER THERE. I lack their talent and commitment. But it'd still be nice to beat Chris in Math though. He was one question behind me in Regional, and I really wish SamS do well in Math. He seemed to have gotten 6th the year before too... It's sad they are graduating, sadder yet we are too after next year.

Pues, tomorra is gonna be the startuva heckuva week. I gotta take English and Calc AP. I hope I can pass the English one. I only like timed writing if it were me who decide how much time it'd be...

Best Wishes

useless · Long-term Member

Haha. Yeah, I got 3 AP tests this week: Chem, English, and Comp Sci. I took the English test today and I have absolutely no idea how I did. I mean, I did all but 4 on the multiple choice section with resonable certainty, but I rushed through everything. And on the writing, I felt like I did awesome on all three essays, but then again, you never know what kind of grader you'll get... So yeah, I have absolutely no idea. I didnt study for the AP English test at all, and I am determined to only study for chem, history, and physics now, sigh*

As far as state is concerned, you stand a pretty good chance at top 3 in both topics. All it takes is a bad day for either of them, and you're within striking range. You have everything to gain, and they have everything to lose, so if I were you, I'd be feeling pretty confident, especially since they probably have AP tests going on as well... They're also both seniors, which may mean that they decide to not study for a day or two before competition out of complacency... or not. eh... Whatever... If not you, then Blain or someone else might beat up on the two of them >.<.

But yeah... I finally got this summer settled with a friend I have that works at this Donut shop. Everyday after summer school and working out, I'm going over to the shop (right next to school) where he and I will take a calc test each day during his lunch break. When we run outta tests, we'll cycle back through em again, until we can do every problem on every test with speed and accuracy. We're doing calculator together because all the other events require much more careful study, whereas in calculator, it seems to be a collection of problem types that they define for you in a solutions manual, which in effect you can practice until the formulas are second nature and mindless. I hope all my inferences here about the nature of calculator are right, because if they are, I should be able to win out of region, which ultimately is my goal. The other kid is a sophomore, so if I can get him up to that kind of speed by next year, our calc team will be decent, and it'll have room for growth, since he should be scoring over 200 by that time. I rather dislike calc, but I like winning metals, and I really want to see this kid start doing UIL, so I'll gladly do it.

I'm also getting him to do NS. He wants to focus on Calc during the lunch breaks because they give him an hour off, but he said he'd do one NS test a day over the summer as well, which is awesome. Especially since nobody wanted to do it when I asked at the beginning of this year. So, by next year, we might be a threat at region. I'm not saying we will be, since I have yet to rope in the last guy, but its definately looking good. :]

Now off to studying for science... Physics and Chem are going to be a killer. <>_<>

- Zack -

bradp · Senior Member

Where do you get the solutions manual for calculator?

fht · Long-term Member

CHEM?! I thought chem should be next Wed.

I'm taking 4 APs: English, CalAB, Chem, and USHistory(I got to take it on the 18th because I advanced to State, Yay!) The English test really made me feel like a foreigner, I did a lot better than I thought in the essays because I FINISHED ALL OF THEM; some endings sounds rushy though. Multiple choice was no good. 18th century English writing are amusing to read in leisure; in an AP test when you have only 5 minutes left? not a good idea. I hope I can pass.

Tomorrow is cal, no pressure. I need some thorough review on chem to pass it. And USHistory could be the worst nightmare of all. One of my friend needs to take both Eng. Comp and USHistory late. They are on the same day, and poor guy, he needs to write 6 essays that day.

You are right, I have nothing to lose. I'm pretty happy having made State already, but what you described as a "bad day" for SamS and Chris won't work too well for me. SamS, for example, gets 400 on good days and, I guess, 373 on bad days, and the same for Chris. I've met both of'em, and none of'em looks like they will take a day off for the heck of it. Blain has a big chance though; I think he's had a bad day at Regional.

See, the good thing about Calc tests is that the number crunchers can be used over and over again. I need to confer with my coach to get some more tests.

Are we going to do that Summer League again? Last year it went pretty well for the first 3 tests.

Good luck on your CompSci, Chem and Physics. You're not taking APUSHistory? Nevertheless,

Best Wishes

useless · Long-term Member

Ahhhh!!! You're right! AP US History is this week!!! Well thats ok, I guess... Of all the histories I've taken, US History has stuck the most. All that hard work this year is really starting to pay off. We've taken a few practice AP tests in class, and I havent scored below a 4, which in my book is pretty good.

I took the CS A test today, and it was harder than I thought it would be. I mean, I'm almost certain I got every multiple question right, but there was some pretty complicated subjects on it... The hands on part was cake, though.

I'm not sure about the Number Sense league. If someone else is willing to keep it up, that would be cool. I just cant do it, I just dont have the time to maintain a NS league like last year, It took a lot of time to get people to take the tests and send in their scores. This summer, I simply wont have the time, but I bet we can get something going.

Good luck on your Calc AB test! I know you dont need it, but the Calculus AP exam has always seemed to me to be a rather intimidating test. As for the US History test, I have one piece of advice for the multiple choice section: Let your first impulse be your guide! Overthinking screws things up every freaking time.

And Brad - the solution manual is printed by UIL every year. You get it when you go to the SAC conferences, where the new types of questions that are introduced each year are explained in thorough detail. I believe that AMT, Andy Zapata's company puts out a book every year that contains an almost encyclopedic amount of calc problems and how to crack em, just like his ELEMENTS OF NUMBER SENSE.

fht · Long-term Member

Mmm, Cal AB is done. I knew if it is not a 5 I'd just kill myself the samurai way. Well, my cal teacher (who's also my coach in math and calc), pulled us out of class the WHOLE DAY to prep us for it. On the practice test I did a bit too fast. So today I tried to do it with perfect patience and serenity, and when I was still pondering on the last subquestion of #2 on the calc free-response, I was notified to have 5 minutes left, so I ended up sweating a little bit.

I'm leaving tomorrow morning because another mate that advanced has some kind of journalism and it's at noon. I think I'm going to spend the afternoon doing physical and mental workout. If the hotel has a pool, I can't wait to jump in it.

I took CS A AP last year, didn't feel good about it. Got a 4. I'm not that into computer programs probably because I'm not a game-player (my dad's horribly myopic, so he kinda stopped me before I was really drawn into it). "public static void main" failed to attract me after I learned what they mean.

Thanks for the APUSH(is that what history is called elsewhere?) tip.

Good luck on all the upcoming tests and contests and,

Best Wishes